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Four Steps to Effective Crisis Intervention
Step #1: Listen
- Elements of Listening
- Establish rapport and trust.
- Identify precipitating problems.
- Help the person deal with, identify, and diffuse feelings.
- Techniques for Listening
- Use first names, ask if it OK to use the person's first name.
- Use content questions.
- Ask or use feeling questions or statements.
Step #2: Assess
- Elements of Assessing
- Determine the severity of the crisis.
- Assess potential lethality or physical harm to the person or others.
- Identify coping patterns, strengths and resources
- Techniques for Assessing
- Find out if the person is suicidal, homicidal, or both.
- Find out to what extent the crisis has disrupted the person's normal life pattern. Are daily routines with family, friends, work, etc. affected?
- Find out if the level of tension has distorted the perception of reality.
- Find out how the person deals with anxiety, tension, or depression. Have they been proactive?
- Find out what coping methods were used in the past. Do they have a variety?
- Find out if family and social resources are potential resources. Are the resources positive or negative?
- Find out what the person used as support systems in the past. Are they present, absent, or exhausted? Can the combine or use the systems in a new way?
Step #3: Develop an Action Plan
- Elements of Developing an Action Plan
- Selectively choose and use appropriate approaches to action planning.
- Assist in modifying previous inadequate coping skills.
- Negotiate a contract or action plan.
- Select appropriate referral resources.
- Plan for immediate action and implementation.
- Techniques for Developing an Action Plan
- Use three basic approaches:
- Start by being non-directive.
- Be collaborative by working together on a joint plan.
- Be directive if the person does not or will not make a plan.
- When making an action plan, keep it simple and manageable.
- Keep the action plan short-term, 24 hours to three days.
- Keep the action plan achievable and focused.
- Plan for follow-up provisions.
Step #4: Close
- Elements of Closing
- Review completed action plan.
- Do anticipatory planning for building new ties with resources.
- Plan and provide follow-up.
- Keep the action plan achievable and focused.
- Plan for follow-up provisions.
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